Executive Director

My mother’s idea of a perfect day for herself and for her family was spending all day at an art museum. Her young children – my brother, my sister, and I – did not share this enthusiasm or passion. We plodded along through galleries appearing disinterested, looking forward to the picnic lunch on the museum grounds or a break in the museum restaurant. Until that moment, where was the bench in the next room to sit down?

As a Ball State University student many years ago, BSU’s Center for International Programs offered a study abroad opportunity in Vienna, Austria. I embraced this opportunity with all my being. The semester abroad was transformational for me, to say the least. One of those transformations was revisiting my past, taking strolls through art museums – the Schloss Belvedere in Vienna, The Musée d’Orsay in Paris, and Marc Chagall Museum in Nice, France. I learned about Gustav Klimt and the Vienna Secession, fell in love with Corot, and remembered how much Marc Chagall’s art captivates me. The all-day museum visits during that semester abroad were meditative and pleasurable. My mother’s gift to me as a child was finally appreciated by me as a 21-year-old college student. I am grateful to my mother for shaping and molding my tastes and for sharing her passion for art.

And this is our desire for the MSO’s 70th season, The Art of Music – to offer to you a pleasant trip down memory lane through visual art and music. As you reminisce, we hope the experience is even more meaningful because you are sharing the moment with your friends and your family including children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

Vita brevis, ars longa. As the Muncie Symphony Orchestra celebrates its 70th season in our community, we thank you for your loyalty and unwavering support. By sharing your passion for live orchestral music with your friends and family, the Muncie Symphony will continue to enrich our lives for many years to come.